Hilton, NY – Only a second-year team, Russell Sage College's baseball team wrapped the 2023 season with new high-water marks for wins as well as producing 10 Empire 8 All-Conference performers. The Gators earned back-to-back appearances in the Empire 8 Tournament under head coach Nick Pontari and capped the 2023 season as the Empire 8 Tournament runner-up with record of 18-25.
RSC's sophomore outfielder Brendan Espinal (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) headlined the Gators with his team-leading statistics. He led the Gators with 21 stolen bases, 52 hits, and 34 RBI's to set the mark for single-season accomplishments. He added a .984 fielding percentage and had 168 at bats with a .399 slugging percentage in 43 games played.
2023 Empire 8 Baseball All-Conference Selections
Player of the Year: Noah Campanelli, Sr., 2B, St. John Fisher
Pitcher of the Year: Patrick McGuire, Jr., P, St. John Fisher
Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Money, Sr., 2B, Elmira
Rookie of the Year: Kooper Knabe, Fr., P, Utica
Coaching Staff of the Year: St. John Fisher, led by Head Coach Brandon Potter
Empire 8 First Team
Catcher – Jourdan Plaisted, Sr., C, Elmira
Catcher – RJ Murphy, Jr., C, Keuka
Catcher – Nathan Yantz, Sr., C, Utica
First Base – Brian Norsen, Sr., 1B, St. John Fisher
Second Base – Noah Campanelli, Sr., 2B, St. John Fisher
Shortstop – Brendan May, Sr., SS, Utica
Third Base – James Murphy, Jr., 3B, St. John Fisher
Outfield – Ben Lavery, Sr., OF, St. John Fisher
Outfield – John Son, Sr., OF, Utica
Outfield – Brendan Espinal, So., OF, Russell Sage
Utility – Brendan May, Sr., U, Utica
Designated Hitter – Joe Battista, Gr., DH, Utica
Starting Pitcher – Patrick McGuire, Jr., P, St. John Fisher
Starting Pitcher – Kooper Knabe, Fr., P, Utica
Relief Pitcher – Trevor Ciccotti, Sr., RP, Houghton
Relief Pitcher – Russell Dunlap, Jr., RP, St. John Fisher
^ There was a three-way tie for the first team catcher. There will not be a second or third team catcher.
Empire 8 Second Team
First Base – Frank Colletta, So., 1B, Russell Sage
Second Base – Steve Sclafani, Jr., 2B, Utica
Shortstop – Eric Arreola, Fr., SS, Medaille
Third Base – Zach Parr, Sr., 3B, Houghton
Outfield – Matteo Salvati, So., OF, Elmira
Outfield – Dominic Guccia, So., OF, St. John Fisher
Outfield – Dom Fasolo, Jr., OF, Utica
Utility – James Lubanski, Sr., U, Russell Sage
Designated Hitter – James Lubanski, Sr., DH, Russell Sage
Starting Pitcher – Hunter Kendall, Sr., SP, Houghton
Starting Pitcher – Benjamin Huckans, Fr., SP, St. John Fisher
Relief Pitcher – William Simkin, Sr., RP, Russell Sage
Relief Pitcher – Dylan Sullivan, Fr., RP, Utica
Third Team
First Base – Jack Bono, Sr., 1B, Utica
Second Base – Dom Caminitti, So., 2B, Russell Sage
Shortstop – Nick Lemire, Jr., SS, St. John Fisher
Third Base – Brett Warden, So., 3B, Elmira
Third Base – John Longeretta, Sr., 3B, Utica
Outfield – Jason Kauffeldt, Sr., OF, Houghton
Outfield – Jeremey Wilcox, Jr., OF, Houghton
Outfield – Jared Russell, So., OF, Russell Sage
Outfield – Joe Crossley, Sr., OF, Utica
Utility – Ethan Cetton, Jr., U, Houghton
Designated Hitter – Jake Crantz, Fr., DH, St. John Fisher
Starting Pitcher – Jared Beckley, Sr., SP, Keuka
Starting Pitcher – Liam Doyle, So., SP, Russell Sage
Relief Pitcher – Michael Karpinski, So., RP, Russell Sage
Relief Pitcher – Brendan May, Sr., RP, Utica
Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year
Matteo Salvati, So., OF, Elmira
Isaac Mann, Sr., 1B, Houghton
Jared Beckley, Sr., P, Keuka
Quinton Jordan, Jr., OF, Medaille
Alexander Andrew, Sr., INF/OF, Russell Sage
Ryan O'Mara, Sr., P, St. John Fisher
Nathan Yantz, Sr., C, Utica
Sophomore first baseman Frank Colletta (Holtsville, NY/St. John the Baptist) started 36 games for the Gators and added a .328 batting average with 45 hits and 24 RBI's. He tallied nine doubles with a .394 slugging percentage as well as an impressive .982 fielding percentage having made just five errors at the corner on 279 total chances. He also has a program-record 74 career hits with 14 doubles, which stands tied for third highest.
Senior James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber) added a selection to the Empire 8 Second Team as both a designated hitter and a utility player. A newcomer with the Gators this year, he started 42 of 43 games and added a .335 batting average. He also led the team with his school-record 18 doubles and 78 total bases. He had a .503 slugging percentage with a .444 on-base percentage.
Right handed relief pitcher Will Simkin (Canberra, Australia/Canberra Grammar) earned acclaim for his efforts in 2023. He racked up a 4.65 ERA in 14 appearances with a 1-0 record and a save in 31.0 innings of work. He struck out 22 as well. On his career, he has appeared in 28 games with 76.1 innings of work and 50 career strikeouts. He wraps his time as a Gator fourth in appearances and also fourth in strikeouts.
Sophomore Don Caminitti (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) was named to the third team at second base. A starter in 34 of 38 games played, he batted .299 with 38 hits and 15 RBI's. He added 10 stolen bases and a .433 on-base percentage.
Sophomore outfielder Jared Russell (Colonie, NY/Colonie) came on strong for the Gators as they made their playoff push. He batted .358 with 29 hits and was 12-16 on stolen bases with a .383 slugging percentage.
RSC's Liam Doyle (West Sayville, NY/Connetquot) added third team honors as a starting pitcher. The right-handed ace led the Gators with 60.1 innings of work, a single-season mark. He went 4-8 with 13 starts and fanned a record 57 batters along the way. He hold RSC's career pitching mark for most wins (7), most games started (21), most innings worked (104.1), most strikeouts (92) and is poised to become the first pitcher to strike out 100 batters.
Sophomore pitcher Michael Karpinski (Ballston Spa, NY/Saratoga Springs) worked in 19 games this season, adding a 3-2 record with 37 strikeouts in his 42.0 innings of work. On his RSC career, he ranks No. 2 with his 32 career appearances as well as first with his seven career wins.
Senior infielder Alex Andrew (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber) was named to the 2023 Empire 8 Baseball Sportsman of the Year Team. A two-year letterwinner with the Gators, he has played in 54 games, which ranks seventh, while having tallied 28 career hits which ranks 11th best.
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